Chris Walas

Christopher James Walas (born 1955) is an American special effects artist, make-up effects artist, film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on the film The Fly (1986),^[1] for which he won an Academy Award and was nominated for two British Academy Film Awards.

Chris Walas
Walas in his self made documentary detailing his life's work
Born	Christopher James Walas 1955 (age 69–70) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	Christopher Walas Christopher J. Walas
Occupations	Special effects artist Special make-up effects artist Film director Film producer Screenwriter
Years active	1978–present

Biography

His main body of work is with special effects in a wide variety of films, from science fiction to action-adventure. His work on The Fly led to his directorial debut on The Fly II.^[2] He also won an Academy Award for Special Effects Make-up on The Fly and is well known for his creation of the Gremlins. Walas was also partially responsible for creating the famous sequence in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Nazis melt from the intense heat created by the Ark of the Covenant.^[3] Walas created false heads for Ronald Lacey, Wolf Kahler, and Paul Freeman.

Filmographies

Special effects

2002	Dark Heaven	designer: angels
1991	Curse III: Blood Sacrifice	monster design
1991	Naked Lunch	special effects and monster design
1990	Arachnophobia	creature effects supervisor
1989	The Fly II	effects designer and creator: Chris Walas Inc.
1987	House II: The Second Story	makeup and creature effects designer
1986	The Fly	creature effects
1985	Enemy Mine	aliens creator and designer: Chris Walas Inc. special creature makeup and effects director: Chris Walas Inc.
1984	Gremlins	creator: Gremlins
1983	Return of the Jedi	creature consultant
1982	E.T. the Extraterrestrial	model maker (uncredited)
1981	Dragonslayer	close-up dragon: ILM
1980	Airplane!	special projects
1980	Humanoids from the Deep	special effects (uncredited)
1979	Up from the Depths	special effects
1978	Piranha	special properties

Makeup effects

1995	Jade	special makeup effects
1995	Virtuosity	special makeup effects
1989	Tales from the Crypt: "The Switch"	special makeup effects
1985	Enemy Mine	special makeup effects
1984	Gremlins	special makeup effects
1981	Raiders of the Lost Ark	special makeup effects: ILM
1981	Caveman	creator: abominable snowman
1981	Scanners	special makeup effects
1980	Galaxina	special makeup effects
1979	Something Waits in the Dark (later known as Screamers)	special makeup effects, U.S. filmed additions to L'isola degli uomini pesce

Visual effects

2002

Dark Heaven

visual effects

Director

1992	The Vagrant
1990	Tales from the Crypt: "'Til Death"
1989	The Fly II

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
1985	12th Saturn Awards	Best Special Effects	Gremlins	Won
1986	13th Saturn Awards	Best Make-up	Enemy Mine	Nominated
1987	59th Academy Awards	Best Makeup	The Fly	Won
	14th Saturn Awards	Best Make-up		Won
1988	41st British Academy Film Awards	Best Make-up Artist		Nominated
		Best Special Effects		Nominated
1993	2nd Fangoria Chainsaw Awards	Best Makeup Effects	Naked Lunch	Nominated